Lin said he had spoken to McCarron briefly a day after the Alabama football team watched the documentary, “Linsanity.”

“Obviously, it didn’t help much,” Lin said of Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday. “I was following the game. Just talked a little bit about our stories and how they’re similar, what he’s gone through, what I’ve gone through. He’s literally the nicest guy ever.

“Our strength coach Darryl Eto texted me and said, ‘Would you have a few minutes to talk to him?’ I said, sure. I think they watched the documentary the night before the game and I just talked to him real quick. It wasn’t that serious of a conversation. It was more like, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ We talked a little about the film and about his career, I talked about my career and a little more in depth about certain parts we felt we could relate to.

“He talked about always being the underdog or never getting the credit maybe he deserves for all he’s accomplished in his career.”

McCarron won two national championships as Alabama quarterback, but has been often overshadowed. Lin became a breakout star with the Knicks after he was cut by two teams and returned to Houston after the Knicks chose not to match their offer sheet.

Heading into his fourth game against his former team tonight, Lin said the game no longer seems any more significant than other games.

“Maybe, it’s a little special at the Garden, not that tonight won’t be special,” Lin said. “But it’s just going to be another game at this point, it’s been so far removed. I don’t think anybody will really think about what happened two years ago. Maybe fans, but for us, it’s not like the first time back at the Garden.”

The Rockets won all three meetings with the Knicks since signing Lin and have an eight-game winning streak against New York.